I flew to California and took an intensive 3 day training this past summer, in June 2010, in Sacramento.

If the tenant approached me and asked for permission I would be more likely to let them as long as they met my requirements mainly higher renters insurance coverage on their end, additional security deposit  to cover possible damage from the pet and the condition the pet is to go through a training class as soon as they qualify.  

It isn't a silver bullet and it also trains you for things that are difficult to learn on your own, "In the trenches."

With this train of thought, one who owns real estate is never debt free.

I am sure this is getting plenty of real estate investors dealing with short sales pretty nervous, including me since I am just getting started and spent in the 1000's for training..hummmCan we benefit from this foreclosure moratorium in any kind of way within the short sales, reos, bulk reos, foreclosure auctions, there could be an opportunity for those of us that look for one when everyone else is not looking...:)

I jumped into something only knowing the basics and relied upon the on the job training to do the rest.

For the moment at least I have everyone "trained" to pay on time or to make prior arrangements if they need a few extra days due to pay dates or whatever.Eventually, when we get another multi-family I will separate the bank accounts to reduce confusion at our end.

Schools have trained people that failure is wrong.

But I have trained my mind to block out the need to reciprocate by purchasing their course, software, etc....

The area I'm in has a lot of potential and theres a lot of property exchanges lately according the the public records and I believe that the area has a large amount of Investors just "laying low" and finding them is pretty much the key.But I would love to have a mentor or someone to go to just to kind of help out and get some extra training or someone to kind of guide me in the beginning.